Hayden Birdsong, the 22-year-old pitching prospect for the San Francisco Giants, made his major league debut less than two years after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Birdsong’s MLB debut was against the Chicago Cubs, where he pitched for 4 â…” innings, struck out five, and generated nine swings and misses. He left the game with the score tied, and the Giants went on to win 4-3.
Birdsong used his changeup more than usual, throwing it 21 times after only throwing it seven times in his two Triple-A starts. He credits his changeup to a grip tweak he made in spring training. The tweak seems to have paid off, as his changeup is now considered one of the better pitches in the game.
Birdsong’s debut was impressive, but it was not without its challenges. In the third inning, he found himself with the bases loaded and no outs. He was able to get out of the inning, only allowing two runs. This performance was enough to impress Giants manager Bob Melvin, who was desperate for a strong pitching performance.
Birdsong’s second start was against the Atlanta Braves, where he pitched a career-high five innings and gave up two runs. The Giants won the game 5-3, and Birdsong got his first MLB win. He was able to keep his composure after giving up back-to-back homers and pitched well for the rest of the game.
Birdsong’s rise to the MLB has been rapid, especially considering he was only used as a reliever when he was drafted. He has grown into a muscular 6-foot-4 frame with a fastball to match. His electric fastball, sharp slider, and bigger-breaking curveball have made him a formidable pitcher.
